Pyramid display unit



April'14, 1970 R. E. TABER PYRAMID DISPLAY UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1968 INVENTOR'IS RUSSELL E. TABEQ BY m ya ATTORNEYS April 14, 1970 R. E. TABER PYRAMID DISPLAY UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1968 FIG.3a

lNVENTOR/S RUSSELL E. 721552 m ym, 3Z4}, (1/

ATTORNEYS April 4, 1970 R. E. TABER 3,506,134

PYRAMID DISPLAY UNIT Filed July 16, 1968 S Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTOR/S RUSSELL 6. 7455/2 BY M am/9% United States Patent 3,506,134 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 3,506,134 PYRAMID DISPLAY UNIT Russell E. Taber, 510 Dogwood Valley Drive NE., Atlanta, Ga. 30305 Filed July 16, 1968, Ser. No. 745,324 Int. Cl. A47f 7/00 US. Cl. 211-49 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package display unit for stacking packages for easy removal and characterized by a rear panel with means projecting therefrom, whereby said means are positioned so as to uniformly displace a row of stack packages from an adjacent row, and whose upper surface coincides with the top of a row of said packages.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTION Merchandising to the consuming public in the retail fieldhas gone far beyond the primary objective: namely, availability. Demands are now being made for a more convenient display of the products. To this must be added the practical approach by the merchandiser in presenting his wares-eye-appealing displays that possess stability when contacted by the buying public. To date, there has been no single display unit which has met the challenge outlined above.

However, before continuing, it should be made apparent that this invention is directed primarily to the area of retail merchandising such as the supermarkets or beverage outlets. That is, it has its greatest appeal in those areas where packaged goods are displayed for self-service by the buying consumer. Nevertheless, while the invention will be described in this relation, it should not be read as a limitation thereon; since, other and related uses may be found after reading these specifications.

Continuing now with the development of the invention, a typical prior art display of packaged goods, such as a six-pack of soft drink bottles, comprises a plurality of stacked cartons, one on top of another in a pile. This was not satisfactory as the bottles were not protected against dislodgement. Support for these cartons depended principally upon the carton immediately below. The use of inserts between horizontal rows added stability to the display, but detracted in its appearance. An entire row of cartons or packages had to be removed before the insert could be withdrawn.

The solution to the latter problem was found by the use of a multi-convoluted self-recoiling roll. A display device utilizing same is disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,852,143, issued Sept. 16, 1958 to the present inventor. However, while the display taught therein offered convenient access to the products, it did not possess the degree of stability necessary for some products.

Therefore, a display unit according to the present invention was designed to yield a display offering convenience, stability and eye-appeal, without complex and expensive fabrication. In addition, the display unit can be used with existing counter space without any modification of the unit or counter space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The display unit of this invention is designed to utilize the stabilizing influence of one package straddling two like packages beneath, without the attendant waste of space normally associated with a typical pyramid arrangement. This is accomplished by the present invention with a display unit having a vertical rear panel, and means projecting horizontally from said panel. The depth of the horizontal projecting means is related to the depth of the displayed packages in a manner to be described later. An additional feature of the said means is that the upper surface is horizontal and at a level an integral height of the displayed package. Speaking from a mathematical standpoint for the preferred embodiment, where:

W=height of package X=depth of package Y=depth of horizontal means Z=height, upper surface of horizontal means,

A and B in the following equations:

will be integral amounts. However, generally speaking Y may vary between about 25 to of X.

The horizontal projecting means of this invention can assume a variety of shapes and materials. For example, it can be a sheet of formed metal adapted to lie adjacent a wall of the retail store. A radically different means, but nevertheless, the functional equivalent, is a vacuumformed plastic abutment on a back panel. This latter form is sufficiently light that it could be used on a shelf. Other means could take the form of a plurality of stepped abutments or vertically adjustable steps. In any case, it should be evident, particularly with the assistance of the following detailed description, that an inexpensive yet material advancement has been made in retail display systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a display unit constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE la is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a modified version of the invention.

FIGURE 2a is a side view of the embodiments shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a third modification to the display unit of this invention.

FIGURE 3a is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a fourth modification of the invention.

FIGURE 4a is a side view of the embodiment shown in:

FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a fifth modification of the invention.

FIGURE 5a is a side View of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Turning now to a consideration of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 1a, it will be seen that it comprises a base member 11 and a vertical panel 12 cooperating therewith to form the support elements for the display unit. It should be understood at this point that the base member 11 may comprise the floor, a counter, shelf, or separate platform. But in each instance, it is the member upon which the packages are stacked. And, this can either be solid or grill type.

Secured to the vertical panel 12 at an intermediate location is a horizontal abutment 13. This abutment is characterized by a top flat surface 14, a forward face 15, and a depth from said face to said panel of X, where X, in the preferred embodiment, is a simple mathematic relationship to the depth or thickness of the displayed package. While this relationship will be defined in greater detail hereinafter, simple mathematic relationships are intended to include A, /3, /2, /3, etc.

The level of the upper surface 14 of abutment 13 is positioned so as to coincide with the top surface or upper most portion of a row of packages 16 stacked on the base member 11. This relationship will also be defined in greater detail later. For convenience in defining the relative shape and positioning of the abutments 13, and in the modified display units defined later, the following designations will be used:

W=height of package X=depth of package Y=depth of horizontal means Z=height above supporting base of upper surface of each horizontal means.

FIGURES 2 and 2a represent a light weight modified version of the dispiay unit. Here, a vertical panel 22 is provided with a vacuum-formed plastic abutment 23. No attempt will be made here to detail this procedure as it is a process well known in the packaging field. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 2a, the vertical panel 22 has been provided with two formed plastic abutments 23. In each instance, the upper surface 24 coincides with the top portion of the packages 26 stacked on the base member 21. Due to its light weight and simplicity of construction, this embodiment is readily adapted for us on shelves.

As a further convenience, and a means to enhance the stability of the display, foamed rubber, friction tape or plastic strips may be applied to the top surfaces 14 and 24, to improve the frictional contact of the packages stacked thereon. Also, this means will provide some tolerance in matching a top surface of the abutment to that of the packages.

FIGURES 3 and 3a represent a permanent, yet one of the most simple, means for displaying a given product in the manner described herein. The abutment 33 may be formed from a single sheet of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum with the necessary 90 corner bends. With this arrangement, the abutment 33 can be placed on a counter or floor to give a stepped appearance to the stacked packages. This is most evident in FIGURE 3a.

A fourth embodiment is shown in FIGURES 4 and 4a. Here, a rear panel 42 is provided with stepped abutments 43 and 43a at a height dictated by the height of packages 46. The panel 42 may be fabricated from materials such as wood, plastic or even cardboard. In the latter case, an added advantage lies in the advertising potential for the broad back of the panel 42.

The fifth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURES and 5a. While the display unit taught here is the most complex, it is the most versatile. Attached to the real panel 52 are two adjustable abut ments 53 and 53a. As a means to adjust said abutments, vertical wire guides 57 are provided. This permits the movement of the abutments so as to adjust the level of the surfaces 54 and 54a to coincide with the tops of stacked packages (not shown) in the manner described above. These abutments are fixed in position on the wire guides 57 by means of bolts and clips 58, or other suitable means.

The base of the guides 57 are joined by a common transverse member 59 which is spaced a distance from the panel 52 equal to the depth of abutmcnt 53. By this means, support at the top and base is provided for packages stacked thereagainst.

While only five preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be apparent that the display unit may assume other forms. Nevertheless, for the most desirable display from an eye-appealing and stability standpoint, the following conditions should prevail. Where:

W=height of package X=depth of package Y= depth of horizontal means Z=height, upper surface of horizontal means, A and B in the following equations:

Y -A, -B

will be integral amounts. However, it is contemplated that in its broadest aspect, the invention includes values of Y which may vary between about 25 to 75% of X.

Applying the above equations to the illustrated embodiments, the following typical values result.

*Suggested size package.

Since numerous modifications may be suggested to those skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, no limitation is intended to be imposed herein except as set forth in the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a package display unit for stacking packages for easy removal, whereby said packages are characterized by a predetermined depth equal to X, the improvement comprising in combination therewith, a vertical rear panel for the display, means projecting from said panel a distance Y, where Y falls within the range of about 25-75% of X, and at least first and second layers of contiguous packages, said first layer adjacent said panel and said second layer adjacent said means, whereby said first layer is displaced from said second layer to reveal a pyramidal or staggered relationship therebetween.

2. The display unit claimed in claim 1 including a horizontal support member for said pluraiity of packages, and said packages are characterized by a predetermined height equal to W, whereby said means is provided with a horizontal upper surface, and said surface is spaced a distance Z above said supporting member such that B in the fo lowing equation:

is an integral amount.

3. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein A in the following equation:

is an integral amount.

'4. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a plurality of projecting means.

5. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said projecting means is a single rectangular abutment projecting from said rear panel.

6. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said means is at least one vacuum-formed plastic abutment.

7. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutment is at least one step integral with said rear panel.

8. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutment is a sheet of metal formed into a stepped configuration.

9. The display unit claimed in claim 2 wherein said abutment is vertically adjustable with respect to said rear panel.

10. The display unit claimed in claim 9 including a plurality of adjustable abutments.

11. The display unit claimed in claim 10 wherein said abutments are adjustable along vertical guides secured to said rear panel.

12. The display unit claimed in claim 11 including means to fix the height of said adjustable abutments in relationship to the height of the stacked packages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,063,393 12/1936 McIver 211-49 2,079,224 5/1937 Paschell 211 49 10 3,439,811 4/1969 Bell 211 49 JAMES A. LEPPINK, Primary Examiner 

